September 1st, 2012. It was the Labor Day (US) holiday weekend so we took the
opportunity to make an overnight trip into the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Our first stop was a side trip down to Dockery Lake in the Chestatee Wildlife
Management Area. We found interesting wildflowers along the road down to the
lake and by the road near the lake.
Desmodium paniculatum (Panicledleaf
Ticktrefoil)
The flower
The leaves
Stenanthium gramineum (Eastern Featherbells, Common Featherbells)
These plants were
growing along the roadside in many areas. They were particularly obvious along
the road down to the lake.
The
flowerhead. The stem is often 12 to 18 inches tall.
The
plant looks like a grass when it’s not in bloom.
A
closer view of the flower stem, and an
individual
flower. The flowers are about ½ inches in diameter
Goodyera
pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain)
The
leaves of these plants are a dead giveaway. I’ve found a lot of plants from
time to time but have never seen one in bloom. We didn’t this time either, but
it was clear that a number of plants in this area had bloomed so we have a
place to check on next year.
The
plant: leaves and flower stalk developing seeds
The
leaves
The
developing seed pods
Hypoxis
hirsuta (Common Yellowstar Grass, Common Goldstar, Yellow
Stargrass, Hairy Yellow Stargrass, Common Stargrass)
Hypoxis
hirsuta usually blooms in the Spring. I was lucky enough to spot a single plant
that was blooming.
The
bloom, photographed using artificial light
Chimaphila maculata (Pipsissewa,
Striped Wintergreen, Spotted Wintergreen, Striped Prince’s Pine)
It’s easy to recognize this plant in the woods
by their distinctive leaves and by the seedpods. I’ve posted photos of the
flowers here and here
Developing seed pods.
Campanula divaricata (Small Bonny Bellflower, Southern Harebell, Appalachian Bellflower)
These plants were growing on the embankments by
the road down to the lake. The flowers would be easy to overlook because they
are so small.
The plant
*****
*****
Closer view of the individual flowers. It would have been easy to overlook these
flowers because they are so small.
Aureolaria flava (Smooth Yellow False Foxglove)
These plants were growing on the embankments by
the road down to the lake.
Buds
Open flowers
Collinsonia canadensis (Richweed)
These plants were growing on the embankments by
the road down to the lake.
The plant
The branching flowerhead
An individual flower
We were surprised and delighted by the variety of wildflowers we found at Dockery Lake.
Click on an image to view a larger image
Identification
resources:
Southeastern
Flora:
- Hypoxis hirsuta (Common Yellowstar Grass)- Campanula divaricata (Small Bonny Bellflower)
- Collinsonia canadensis (Richweed, Horse Balm)
Name
that Plant: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:
- Hypoxis hirsuta (Yellow Stargrass, Hairy Yellow Stargrass,Common Stargrass) - Chimaphila maculata (Pipsissewa, Striped Wintergreen, Spotted Wintergreen)
Distribution:
United
States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:
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